Kiteboard gear tips

If you are looking at kiteboard gear, you have likely seen videos of people enjoying this extreme water sport before. It looks like a lot of fun, and in fact it is, as long as you have the right kind of equipment and training to enjoy it. Unfortunately, people get hurt or killed each and every year participating in the sport without having the proper knowledge, skills or equipment.

So what kind of gear do you need before beginning your quest to become a super advanced kite boarder? First of all, you will need some basic gear such as a power kite. There are two different kinds of power kites: leading edge inflatables and foil kites. The leading edge inflatable kites are made from a ripstop nylon with inflatable plastic bladder which goes across the front edge of the kite. There are also separate smaller bladders which are perpendicular to the main bladder. This forms the chord, or foil, of the kite. These inflated bladders are what gives the kite its shape and will also allow the kite to float when it's dropped in the water.

Foil kites are made of mostly fabric. They have air pockets, otherwise known as air cells, which give it lift. They also have a fixed bridle to allow it to keep its arc shape which is similar to the look of a paraglider.

Of course, there are other pieces of equipment that you'll need if you're going to become a kite surfer including flying lines. These are made from strong material in order to handle the crazy winds that can come when flying a kite over the water. You will also need a control bar which attaches to the kite using the lines. Other kiteboard gear that you will need is a kite harness, safety hook knife and a wetsuit. It's also recommended that you wear a helmet to protect your head in case of blunt trauma or cuts. You're going to want to have a personal flotation device in case you end up in deep water. While you're waiting for rescue, you're going to need to stay afloat.

It seems like there's a lot of kiteboard gear that you're going to need, but you must remember that a lot of it is in place to keep you safe. For instance, some people recommend getting an impact vest which will help you protect impacts on your torso area.